Established in 1994 Aldis Taekwondo has clubs in Oxford and Barnet in London which offer a variety of classes to students interested in the traditional martial art, Olympic style competition, Self-defence and Strength and Conditioning. We are a friendly, inclusive and professional club, that aims to provide high quality Taekwondo tuition in a safe environment for young and old and all abilities.
We passionately believe that providing an opportunity to learn Taekwondo has a beneficial effect on the overall health, fitness and mental wellbeing of the community. It’s a great way to meet new friends and become part of a rich historical and cultural tradition, with its roots embedded in a five thousand year old history.
Aldis Taekwondo Club is a full member of Chungdokwan GB . Chungdokwan is one of the original schools (kwans) of Taekwondo set up in Korea just after World War II. Through its membership of Chungdokwan GB, Aldis Taekwondo is also affiliated to World Taekwondo and Sport England. The club instructors have professional indemnity and public liability insurance through British Taekwondo, together with Level 2 Coaching qualifications and DBS disclosures.
There are many advantages to Taekwondo training. Great emphasis is placed on stretching and flexibility and you will find that you become increasingly supple as you train. You will gain physical skills and knowledge of self-defence techniques and beyond that, Taekwondo training develops self confidence and respect for self and others.
What is Taekwondo?
Taekwondo is a martial art from Korea, but to understand its roots we have to look at the historical context that gave it birth. From 1910 until 1945 Korea was occupied by Japan, who ruthlessly suppressed the country’s own culture and traditions and imposed its own. The practice of martial arts was forbidden in Korea, but as a young man Lee Won-Kuk went to High school and University in Tokyo. While he was there in the thirties he studied under the founder of Shotokan Karate, Gichin Funakoshi and on his return to Korea in 1944 he obtained permission to open a Karate school teaching Japanese students and a few select Koreans.
Lee called his club Tangsoodo Chungdokwan, Tangsoodo being the Korean pronunciation of the 1920s version of the Japanese word Karate do and Chungdokwan being the name he gave his school (Kwan) the way of the blue wave. After the war when Korea was liberated Lee’s teaching became increasingly popular and more Kwans were opened, leading to the establishment of nine schools of what in 1955 became known as Taekwondo. Tae, to break or strike with the foot; Kwon, to break or strike with the hand and Do, the way, or path.
As Taekwondo has developed over the years, a lot of the Japanese elements, such as the very deep stances of Shotokan and many hand techniques, have been replaced by lighter more fluid stances and a proliferation of different kicks that represent an echo of traditional Korean arts that go back thousands of years
The 5 Tenets of Taekwondo
Courtesy: The idea that one should treat others as one would like to be treated, in other words to be kind and respectful to one another. This respect is demonstrated in the training hall (dojang) by bowing as you enter, at the beginning of a class, again at the end and when you leave the dojang.
Integrity: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to compromise. Not taking short cuts or failing to see something through to the end, being someone who can be trusted by others.
Perseverance: Continuing to try even when things are difficult, never giving up. Achieving your goals even though they seem impossible, pushing on through and helping others to do the same. Perhaps going to class even though you might not feel like it!
Self-Control: Maintaining self-discipline in trying or emotional situations. In self-defence the ability to understand the concepts and application of avoidance and reasonable force. In Taekwondo we are not just strengthening and training the body, to develop a strong mind is probably even more important.
Indomitable Spirit: The idea that your inner-self, the person that you are inside, can never be dominated, bullied or put down. That thing that makes you see failure as learning, that makes you do something over and over until you get it right, the thing that drives you onward through discomfort and fear.